(A/N, final and at last: Again, I got slow with the posting, but…that's because I'm already working on the sequel for this. Really, I am. I promised babies, and I shall deliver, no pun intended. Now, my dear, long-suffering readers, it's up to you- pick up our favorite couple a few months from now, or as few weeks/days? Either way can happen. Audience's choice. It's been a fun ride, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.)
"Tough night, Susan?" Sheridan was laughing at her, the bastard. He dared joke about it. And there had been no coffee yet that morning. Susan fought the urge to growl.
"Shut up." She snapped instead, cranky after a night spent talking and loving more than sleeping. How was she to know they'd talk 'til dawn? Once they started they found it impossible to stop, exploring each other's pasts they way they'd explored bodies earlier. The fact that she'd shared everything with him except for her limited extra abilities, Talia included, caused her some discomfort still, at being this exposed, but he'd done the same with his life's tale. Would he still love her if- but Sheridan was still smiling, that infuriating, unbreakable smile of his. "Shut up! It's none of your business."
"Of course not." He replied mildly, "Coffee?
"Please." She reached for a cup gratefully.
Two mugs later, she was feeling more human, and ready to talk. Sheridan started the official part of the meeting by producing a flat piece of bright metal and placing it on the table in front of her. "Here- I want you to have your own link while you're here. Same as the regular ones." It felt good to stick it to her hand again- like coming home.
"Thanks." It meant a lot to be constantly available- it meant she may be needed, as part of the group. It meant he planned on having her around for longer than she first planned on. "I've missed it."
"I thought you might," He nodded, still smiling. "Tell me all about the 'Persephone'," He asked, moving away from the formal and into the personal. "What can she do? How was your year?"
"She's a good ship. My year…wasn't bad." She'd ended up spilling a year's worth of frustrations and bitterness into Marcus's patient ears the previous evening, and didn't want to go through it again. "It was as different as it could be from the Station. The new destroyer class ships are no White Star, but they're impressive. Ugly, but efficient." There, that about covered it. "How was your year, John? Sounds like you've been busy." Let him talk for a while.
"We've had some rough times with the telepaths, the Centauri, the Drakh. We kept busy." He replied, not quite smiling anymore. "I'll fill you in on everything important later."
"Later?" She decided to cut to the chase, "After what, John?"
"Well…" He cleared his throat nervously, "I remember asking you, when you first arrived, how much leave you had. You said three months."
"Yes." Oh, she'd guessed right. A small burst of warm happiness started blooming in her chest.
"How would you like to extend that leave, say, indefinitely?" He offered, the twinkle back in his eye. She gave him a sly, mischievous look.
"Oh? What exactly are you offering, Mr. President?"
"I'm offering you a job, Susan. Move here, be part of the old team again. Take over the White Star fleet for me."
She gasped- that was far more than she expected. He chuckled. "You've done it before, Susan. And it's not much bigger now, and we are, for the moment, at peace. You don't fit in at Earthforce anymore- do you really want to pilot a desk for the rest of your career?" She winced, having him echo her earlier thoughts. She really didn't fit in anymore, not after having done so much outside it. And being back with John, Delenn, Marcus, most importantly…
"You know I can't refuse you, John. I don't want to refuse you." She looked straight at him, holding his eyes steadily, "I'd be honored to come back and take whichever position you're offering. But…won't whoever is in charge of the fleet mind?"
"Speaking from close, personal acquaintance with him, I'd say he'd enjoy having that load removed." John's face told her exactly who'd been in charge of the fleet for the past year. "I can't give it to a Ranger- that'd show favoritism. And there's nobody else I'd trust with it."
"Then I accept, wholeheartedly." She said softly, almost floating with happiness. It was a way to have everything she could want- was there a thing as too many good things happening at once? Surely things couldn't be all silver lining? There had to be a cloud somewhere…"Thank you, John."
"Don't thank me- it's a real job, and it'll be real work. That fleet needs training."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." She smiled wide, feeling alive again, happy and satisfied with the world. "Can I- oh." She remembered and waved her link-hand, "Does Marcus have one of these?"
"If Delenn's found him already, yes he does." Sheridan confirmed.
"Good. But…I want to find him, tell him face to face." Suddenly she was as excited as a schoolgirl.
"Go, go. We'll talk more at dinner tonight- you're not running out on us this time."
"We'll see." She smirked and flew out of the room, startling the guards and not caring one whit.
She was staying, she had love, and she finally had a real home with friends.